The article discusses the rising popularity of improv comedy, highlighting a recent show, "This Doesn't Leave the Room," hosted by the Free Association in London. The author notes a significant change in audience demographics, with younger fans increasingly embracing improvised performances as a trendy form of entertainment. Improv, previously viewed as less favorable, is now reflected in the successes of millennial comedians like Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Ambika Mod, who acknowledge the inherent risks of performing improv. Despite challenges, improv’s appeal continues to grow as shows attract lively crowds looking for innovative comedy experiences.
When it goes badly – and no matter who you are or how long you’ve been doing improv, it’s still possible to do a bad show – it’s obviously a hellscape from which there’s no fleeing.
Improv, that most ridiculed of comedic forms, is finally becoming cool, thanks to a slew of millennial sitcom star practitioners and a stream of trendily branded shows.
Tonight, the tension is palpable; the room is small enough for me to see the performers’ hands shaking. My nerves shift direction: what if there are no good ideas?
Ambika Mod, star of Netflix smash One Day and dedicated improviser, admits the risk is real. It reflects a remarkable shift in audience perception towards what improv represents.
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